Colin Turkington: “First BMR Win Gives Us Confidence”

Colin Turkington told TCF that his first Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship win for BMR Racing meant a lot to himfollowing his success in Donington Park’s second race.

After falling from pole position to third in the day’s opening race at the Leicester circuit, the reigning champion jumped Honda’s Gordon Shedden at the start of race two to lead into Redgate corner, a position he would never lose after fending off an early rear-guard action.

The result now lifts Turkington 14 points clear of Matt Neal at the head of the championship, the win being also his first in a front-wheel drive car since his last-corner triumph at the same Donington Park circuit back in 2006 for Team RAC.

The Northern Irishman told The Checkered Flag on his race two win: “I was able to manage the race. The car was improved from what I had in race one.

“The crucial phase was at the beginning – the guys around me were on softs and needed to manage their pace, whereas I knew I could push on a bit.”

The success – similar to team-mate Jason Plato in race one – was therefore his first for the BMR Racing squad, Turkington elated to have achieved the feat so early in the season.

Photo: btcc.net

He added: “It means a lot. Winning the championship last year was the dream and the goal, but the feeling is just as good when you set yourself a new goal and you achieve it.

“I’m really pleased for all of my new team. It gives us all confidence and motivation for the rest of the year.

“[Consistency] is what I always try to build my championships on. Even in race one I just wanted to ensure I scored well, because there’s still a lot of unknowns for me at this moment.”

Turkington will start seventh on the grid in the day’s final race, his Volkswagen CC carrying 75kg of success ballast as well as running on the softer tyre compound.

“I have to manage [race three] the best I can. For sure, the soft tyre is really difficult today, especially with weight. It is probably the most important race of the day for me now to manage that.

“It’s a really tricky dynamic because you’re in a race but you’ve got to manage the tyres. It’s about striking a balance.”

Referring to his now iconic final corner defeat to Shedden12 months ago, Turkington added: “You immediately get flashbacks!”